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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order authorizing new tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran, a move that intensifies economic pressure on Tehran ahead of a planned new round of talks next week.
The order, signed on Friday, February 6, takes effect from Saturday, February 7. It calls for the imposition of tariffs on goods imported into the United States from any country that “directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or otherwise acquires any goods or services from Iran.” The directive formalizes a warning Trump issued in January, when he threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Iran’s trading partners.
Under the order, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will determine the exact tariff rates, although the document cites 25 percent as a possible benchmark. The policy is expected to affect several countries with active trade ties to Iran, including China, Russia, Germany, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. China remains Iran’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing $32 billion in 2024.
The announcement comes shortly after indirect talks between US and Iranian officials were held in Muscat, Oman, on Friday. The discussions, mediated by Oman, marked the first engagement of this kind since the United States joined Israel’s conflict with Iran, including strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described the talks as positive and confirmed that further meetings are scheduled for early next week.
Despite the diplomatic efforts, tensions between the two countries remain high. A US aircraft carrier group is currently operating in Middle Eastern waters, while Iran is experiencing an ongoing internet blackout amid a government crackdown on widespread economic protests. A US-based human rights organization reported on Friday that it has verified the deaths of 6,505 protesters, 214 members of the security forces, and 61 bystanders since the unrest began in December.
